Census Bureau data shows Rhode Islanders still struggling

THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE, citing federal Census Data, said Rhode Islanders are continuing to struggle to make ends meet. / COURTESY OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE
THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE, citing federal Census Data, said Rhode Islanders are continuing to struggle to make ends meet. / COURTESY OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Islanders had the largest share of residents living in poverty last year among the New England states, according to information from The Economic Progress Institute, a non-partisan research and policy organization.
In a press release, the institute stated that the recovery has been too slow for too many Rhode Islanders, who cannot afford basics, such as decent housing, healthy food and quality child care.
Citing federal Census Bureau data released on Thursday, the institute said that more than 14 percent of Rhode Islanders, more than 144,000 in total, lived in poverty in 2013.
The federal poverty level income was just under $11,800 for an individual last year.
The release also stated that 30 percent of blacks and 37 percent of Latinos lived in poverty last year. Whites and Asians had lower poverty rates at 8.7 and 13.3 percent, respectively.
“To make our state a better place to live, work and grow a business, we need to invest in our people and our communities. Giving Rhode Islanders the tools they need to climb out of poverty not only helps struggling families, but makes our economy stronger for everyone,” Kate Brewster, executive director of The Economic Progress Institute, said in a statement.
Brewster said that lawmakers should let workers’ keep more of their paycheck by expanding the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit and make bolder investments in basic skills and workforce training so that more Rhode Islanders are able to compete in today’s economy.
Census data also revealed information about household income and health insurance coverage.
The state’s median annual income, when adjusted for inflation, remained flat at $55,902 a year, ranking Rhode Island 19th among all states, and in the middle of the New England states. Pre-recession median household income was $60,183.
Also, one in eight, or 120,000, Rhode Islanders did not have health insurance last year, a number essentially unchanged from 2012.
The number of uninsured is expected to drop this year due to the state’s decision to expand Medicaid to low-income working age adults and because middle income Rhode Islanders are able to receive federal tax credits to help purchase coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange, Brewster said.
The Economic Progress Institute publishes a biennial study, the Rhode Island Standard of Need, which shows what it actually costs to live and raise a family in the Ocean State. The study is expected to be released this fall.
“Our study has generally found that it costs between two and three times the federal poverty level to meet a household’s most basic needs in Rhode Island,” Brewster said.

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